Government support of driving courses is a step in the right direction, but it doesn?t go far enough.

While it?s good to see the NSW government has backflipped on its support of driving courses, professional training should be a mandatory component of learning to drive, as it is in some other countries.

Current licensing requirements in Australia are painfully inadequate and often focus on the wrong things, while sometimes exposing young drivers only to the bad driving habits of their friends and family.

It?s hardly proper preparation for what is an extremely complex task ? and a task where controlling the vehicle is only a component of it.

The knowledge bank of situations that occur on the roads is something all drivers are building throughout their lives.

Every driver will at some time during their life have to complete an emergency stop or some other form of accident avoidance, yet instead novice drivers are tested on how to do a three-point turn or reverse park.

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Then almost without fail the police and authorities end up on the evening news after another P-plate tragedy asking what they have to do to save young lives.

Proper training would be a start.

But it has to be the right type of training, which is where governments (preferably the Federal Government) need to step in, creating guidelines for a course that builds a driver?s skill and knowledge without creating overconfidence or sending the message that the road is a race track.

Rightly, driving courses have been hotly debated. There are all manner of advanced driving courses that teach drivers race driving techniques, from drifting through a corner to making a clean pass.

Again, it?s not the answer for younger drivers, but some sort of targeted training in a controlled environment is.

As we do with truck drivers or pilots, the right sort of training can be vital, better preparing people for potentially dangerous situations ? and even helping them avoid such a situation in the first place.

Surely in the digital era there?s also room for more computer simulation when it comes to driving, too?

Whether it?s formula one stars or pilots, the ability to virtually trial something first ? throwing up unexpected scenarios and encouraging prompt problem solving ? is a brilliant way to expose drivers to more of what they?ll experience in the real world.

Yes all of this will cost money. But younger drivers may better appreciate their licence when they finally do get it.